Managerialism and the Post-war evolution of the French national business system

Abstract

Managerial revolutions�-�which witness the appropriation of corporate power by professional managers�-�come in different shapes and sizes. This article builds upon existing critiques of Chandler's universal theory of the managerial revolution through reference to the French national business system, arguing that the concept of the managerial revolution is best understood within specific cultural contexts, elite ideologies and national business systems. It demonstrates, through the inclusion of original data, and a business historical case study, that the French model of capitalism is distinguished by continuing links between the state and business, by the density of its corporate networks, and the large number of elite actors with experience of working in an executive capacity in both the public and private sectors, in stark contrast to the UK.Elites, French National Business System, Managerial Revolution, Networks, State-Business Relations,

Capital Theory and the Dynamics of Elite Business Networks in Britain and France

“…The research on which this article is based stems from a longitudinal, cross-nationally comparative study on business elites and corporate governance in Britain and France (Maclean et al ., 2006; 2007). The project has been conducted by the authors since 1999, and consists of four related sub-projects: first, a study of the institutional histories of the top 100 companies in 1998 in France and the UK respectively; second, a prosopographical study or ‘collective biography’ of 2,291 directors of the top 100 French and UK companies, examining their education, qualifications, careers, networks, roles and responsibilities; third, an in-depth study of the social backgrounds and accomplishments of the top 100 most powerful directors in France and the UK respectively, the ‘super elite’, analysing their social origins and career trajectories; and fourth, a study of the social reality of business elites based upon a set of semi-structured interviews with past and present business leaders in France and the UK.…”

How to reach the top? Fields, forms of capital, and strategies in accessing leadership positions in France among descendants of migrants from Turkey

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